From Thursday the 13th to Sunday the 16th of October, Manhattan’s Javits Center was taken over by New York Comic Con, and my weekend was spent wandering through the building, meeting people, conversing, looking at comics and books and artwork, attending panels, and taking lots of notes.
Joe Simon: My Life In Comics. The co-creator of Captain America turned ninety-eight two days before NYCC began, and was in good spirits while spinning tales of his life and history in the comics industry. He paused to greet old friends in the audience, told of his boyhood in Rochester and his adult years at Timely and Harvey Comics, and despite occasional difficulty hearing the moderator’s questions, charmed all present with his sly wit and genial good humor.
It Gets Better With Comics. A panel discussing issues for gay comics professionals, and exploring LGBT portrayals in comics. The room was filled to capacity, and the lively discussion covered the difficulties faced by queer creators, workplace politics from both editorial and artistic perspectives, and the increasing visibility of gay characters in mainstream comics; not just as token stereotypes, but as well-rounded personalities.
Celebrating 20 years of Bone with Jeff Smith. Another panel that demanded a far larger space than it was afforded, this hour-long discussion covered the history of Jeff Smith’s seminal fantasy– from self-publishing success story to partnering with Scholastic and promoting acceptance of graphic novels in libraries and schools. Smith spoke of his goals when beginning the series (to create “a kids’ book for adults, not for kids”), and his inspirations for the story’s mix of suspenseful and comic elements (citing Ghostbusters and An American Werewolf In London as works with a perfect balance of laughs and scares). Tom Sniegoski (author of the Bone: Quest For The Spark prose novels) was also present, and talked about the delicate balance in expanding the world of Bone, yet ensuring the stories fit within the universe that the comics created. A brief Q&A followed, and Smith’s deft touch with the often-unfocused questions kept things entertaining and moving quickly.
Legendary Comics. The new comics publisher hosted a discussion of their current and upcoming titles, including Frank Miller’s controversial Holy Terror graphic novel, Paul Pope’s PulpHope2012 portfolio, Tower Chronicles by Matt Wagner and Thomas Tull (founder of Legendary’s parent company Legendary Pictures), and an adaptation of John Milton’s Paradise Lost by Michael Kaluta… But I was most excited by the announcement of a new edition of Pope’s classic heist comic The One Trick Rip-Off, expanded to 300 pages and in full color for the first time. It’s a classic, and it deserves the deluxe treatment.
Oni Press Presents Panelmonium. Oni is one of the preeminent independent comics companies, and this panel focused on their continuing and upcoming publications, from southern gothic cowboy horror (The Sixth Gun) to demon-dueling rock & roll stories (Black Metal) to all-ages frivolity (Sketch Monsters, Power Lunch). Lots of new projects were on display, and jokes, laughter, and insanity were the order of business from the participating creators, piquing my interest with art samples, dramatic readings, and pure personality.
Always Bet On Black. This was a fascinating look at the changing faces of cultural stereotypes. Speaker Dyami Pipkin hosted a thought-provoking session covering the history of black characters in comics and American society: from the indentured-but-noble figure of John Henry to the mid-20th-century “black-sidekick” era of Lothar and Ebony, the blaxploitation era shenanigans of Luke Cage: Hero For Hire and the modern day Marvel, DC, and Milestone characters. Pipkin skillfully negotiated the rocky terrain of changing times and shifting archetypes, clearly delineating the difference between understanding and excusing cultural perceptions. It was a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere for discussion, the audience was fully engaged, and I’m hoping the panel returns next year. There was plenty more to talk about, and it seemed like the conversation was just getting started. (Note: Like many panels over the weekend, demand for seats outstripped the size of the room and people were turned away. Hopefully next year, this panel not only returns, but is granted a larger space.)
The Early Works Of Jim Henson (screening and discussion). The Jim Henson Company and Archaia Press hosted this panel, screening selections from Jim Henson’s experimental films and discussing the upcoming release of Tale Of Sand, a graphic novel adapting an unproduced screenplay by Henson (and his longtime collaborator Jerry Juhl). Due to overcrowding issues, I missed the first half of the program, but made it in in time to hear some fascinating details about the book release (the fonts used are based on samples of Henson’s own handwriting; the book will be an oversized hardcover, designed to look like a large artist’s notebook, complete with an elastic band around the cover). There was also discussion of other upcoming Henson/Archaia projects, including a Labyrinth series, and a trilogy of Dark Crystal prequels, with covers and character designs provided by Brian Froud (designer of the original film).
The Image Comics Show. In the category of “fresh and exciting”, Image ruled the weekend at NYCC. Their Saturday afternoon panel featured plenty of art from new and upcoming series, some of which looked unmissable, all of which looked intriguing. The UFO-conspiaracy-lunacy of Joshua Williamson’s Xenoholics, the martial-arts-fight-drama of Blair Butler’s Heart, the edgy “Teen Titans meets Lord Of The Flies” vibe of Landry Walker’s The Danger Club, the designer-zombie tale Alpha Girl (by Jean-Paul Bonjour), Justin Jordan’s hyperviolent afterschool special The Strange Talent Of Luther Strode, Joshua Hale Flakov’s superhuman interest story Last Of The Greats, Kevin Mellon’s industrial romance Lovestruck, and Jimmy Palmiotti’s inexplicable mature-readers book Cap’n Brooklyn… Image PR coordinator Sarah Delaine moderated the discussion of these projects, and the enthusiasm and passion of the creators was palpable and infectious.
Remembering Gene Colan. Legendary comic artist Gene Colan passed away earlier this year, and this Sunday afternoon panel, hosted by his friend Clifford Meth, was a bittersweet and tender hour of conversation. Meth gathered a small group of friends and collaborators to discuss not just the man’s career, but his life, his humor, and his spirit. Don McGregor reminisced on their friendship and collaborations, Walt Simonson offered tales of spending time with Gene and his wife Adrienne, and David Lloyd spoke as a fan of both the art and the man who created it. Anecdotes were told, good times recalled, and the participants shared stories, laughter, and tears. It was a fitting close to the weekend, and a touching tribute to a wonderful gentleman.
Photos © 2011 Marnie Ann Joyce. Additional photos from this event can be seen here.
Read all of Depth of Field’s Comic Con 2011 Coverage here.